Although making your own compost seems very overwhelming, it really isn't, I promise. It is an inexpensive, natural process that converts your kitchen and garden waste into valuable and nutrient rich food that will keep your garden growing year after year

the bin

First things first, you need to select your compost bin. The most popular types are the blackwall compost converter, made from 100% recycled plastic, and the slated wooden composter. To give us a little encouragement, our lovely local authorities have teamed up with getcomposting.com to provide reduced price compost bins

The best location for your bin is on soil as it allows for aeration and drainage along with providing ease of access to bacteria and fungi that convert the waste into compost. If a solid floor is your only option, add a few inches of soil to line the bottom of your bin before adding your waste

the bin

100% recycled plastic blackwall compost converter

the recipe

To make good compost, you need a 50:50 mix of green:brown waste

green waste

Green waste comes from both your kitchen and garden in the form of grass cuttings, weeds, fruit and vegetable peelings and teabags

green waste

fruit and vegetable peelings

brown waste

Brown waste comes from both your home and garden in the form of woody hedge trimmings, cardboard, pet bedding and paper or newspaper (shredded or scrunched)

We are proud to say that 40% of our packaging is biodegradable so you can pop it on to your compost heap, as brown waste, when you have finished with it

the wait

This is where the patience comes in, as it can take anywhere between six months and two years to make compost. Carrying out a little maintenance will help to stay at the lower end of this:

Turn your composting waste every month or so

Manage the moisture balance by adding more brown waste, if your compositing materials are too wet and smelly, or more green waste, if too dry and fibrous

The first year I made compost, I filled two blackwall compost converters and left them alone for 18-24 months. When I opened the bottom, much to my surprise, looking back at me was this dark brown, crumbly and nutrient rich compost

Do your bit to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and start composting today

if you have any questions, please comment below and don't forget to share your compost with us over on social media @bakerycakerybox